By Abigael Joshua

The National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW) has unveiled strategy to combat desertification, reduce poverty and ensure sustainable development in Nigeria’s dry lands.

The agency’s Council Chairman, Sen. Magnus Abe, said this during the induction and familiarisation meeting of the 3rd National Council of the NAGGW, held on Wednesday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the event was, “Green Leadership, Good Governance: Aligning with the Renewed Hope of President Bola Tinubu.”

Abe said that communities in the country face numerous issues that required collective attention.

” From infrastructure development, social welfare and environmental sustainability, we have a responsibility to ensure that our decisions benefit all and sundry, ” he said.

Abe noted that the NAGGW initiative was not just another government programme, but a vision of survival, resilience and hope for citizens whose lives and livelihoods were daily threatened by desertification and the effects of climate change.

He, therefore, assured that the agency would address the challenges from the Niger Delta perspective, a region historically plagued by environmental degradation.

“ I understand how environmental injustice and non-protection can breed poverty, anger and instability. I have seen how oil spills, gas flaring, and ecological damage shaped the realities of people.

“ The Niger Delta taught me that when people feel excluded from the benefits of natural resources, they resist. But when they are empowered as custodians of their environment, they thrive.

” This philosophy will guide my stewardship of the Great Green Wall.

” For those who live in the Sahel regions of the Northern Nigeria, desertification is not an abstract concept; it is a reality that manifests as shrinking farmlands, drying water sources, forced migration and displacement.”

Mr Abe stated that beyond the 11 frontline states, the implications reverberate across our nation, saying ” when water disappears, health and livelihoods are at risk.

” Therefore, the work of this Agency is not just about planting trees; it is about planting hope, restoring dignity, reducing poverty and building peace.”

Earlier, the Director-General of the agency, Saleh Abubakar, noted that green leadership was not just about planting trees, but about planting hope.

According to him, it is about leading with empathy, foresight and a commitment to sustainability.

“ We are gathered at a time when the world faces unprecedented environmental challenges; when climate change continues to fuel extreme droughts, floods, and wildfires across continents.

“ It also reminds us that leadership is not about titles, but about responsibility. A new kind of leadership that is visionary, inclusive and accountable.

”Good governance is not also about rules alone, but choices that deliver real impact,” he said.

The D-G, who is also the NAGGW Council Secretary, emphasised that good governance was the backbone of a lasting impact and demanded transparency, integrity and collaboration.

“ Let us therefore build a system that is equitable, efficient and accountable. Together we will uphold a high standard of accountability and public trust.

“The Great Green Wall began as a vision of the African Union (AU) to create a mosaic of green and productive landscapes stretching across the Sahel.

“Nigeria as a signatory established a Programme Implementation Unit (PIU) within the Federal Ministry of Environment to coordinate national activities.

“Over time, as the scale and urgency of land degradation grew, it became clear that a more robust and autonomous institution was needed,” he added.

Abubakar said that the development led to the enactment of an enabling law and the establishment of the NAGGW with the statutory responsibility to coordinate, implement, and monitor the great green wall programme in Nigeria.

He said recently, the agency inaugurated 50 million date palm plantations across the 11 frontline states.

He described the project as a landmark initiative that combined ecological restoration with food security, economic empowerment, and sustainable livelihoods.

Also, Mr Sylvester Okonofua, an Environmental Consultant in his presentation on the overview of NAGGW Establishment Act, emphasised the need for the safety of field staff as well as the provision of hazard allowances for them. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Deborah Coker